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The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has opened a new investigation into the origin of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Spain, after receiving today the report from the EU reference laboratory detailing the genome sequencing results of the ASF virus.
The report from the Animal Health Research Center (CISA-INIA) in Valdeolmos (Madrid), the EU reference laboratory, includes the molecular characterization obtained by sequencing the genome of the ASF virus and compares it with the various African swine fever viruses detected throughout the European Union.
All viruses currently circulating in the Member States belong to genetic groups 2-28, and not to the new genetic group 29, to which the virus responsible for the outbreak in the province of Barcelona belongs. This strain is very similar to genetic group 1, which circulated in Georgia in 2007.
Viruses, under natural conditions, undergo changes in their genome to varying degrees when they spread through infection cycles in animals. Therefore, the discovery of a virus similar to the one that circulated in Georgia does not rule out the possibility that it originated from a biological containment facility.
The “Georgia 2007” virus strain is a “reference” virus that is frequently used in experimental infections in confinement facilities to conduct virus studies or to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines, which are currently under development.
December 5, 2025/ MAPA/ Spain.
https://www.mapa.gob.es
